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Kushanku / Kanku-Dai Bunkai: Strikes into Neck Crank (video)

This short video was filmed at a class in July 2011. It looks at an application for the sequences immediately following the first “spear hand” strike in Kushanku (Kanku-Dai).

The sequence begins by controlling the enemy’s arm and pushing it across. It is important to keep the enemy’s arm high (i.e. the karateka’s arm position should be similar to the kata) in order to open up one side and to prevent the enemy launching an effective strike with the other hand by making it difficult for them to turn inward. At the same time an open-hand strike is delivered to the enemy’s kidneys (or base of skull in the Shotokan version).

A kick is then delivered to the shin. While the kick is often higher in the kata, it is important to remember that in application low kicks are more effective. The kata then instructs us to strike the base of the enemy’s skull with the forearm and then pop the arm forward to add impact to a rising strike the face.

The chin and top of the head is then gripped as the body drives upward to aid the finishing neck crack. It should go without saying that this is a very dangerous technique and the neck should not be actually cranked in practise (notice how I let go). It’s also important to remember that trying to attack the neck like this is unlikely to be justifiable in anything but the most extreme of circumstances and is presented here solely for information purposes.

I hope you find this quick clip of interest and I’ll be sure share more with you all soon.

All the best,

Iain

PS If you would prefer to watch the video on Youtube, please click HERE